Vermont hits vaccination milestone, nears another
A Woodstock, Vermont, sunset brightens the clouds. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
The state of Vermont continues to make steady progress in its efforts to fully vaccinate its population against COVID-19.
At a Tuesday press briefing, officials announced that 1 in 3 Vermonters have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Shortly, 1 in 5 Vermonters will have received both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This continued progress has enabled the state to gradually ease its public health restrictions in recent weeks, though basic precautions like masking and social distancing are still urged.
“We are one step closer to ending this pandemic, and we’re encouraged by the high percentage of Vermonters in each eligible age group that have made an appointment to receive a vaccine,” said Mike Smith, Vermont’s human services secretary.
On Thursday, vaccine registration opens for Vermonters age 60 and older. The remaining eligibility schedule after that is:
50+ : March 29
40+ : April 5
30+ : April 12
16+ : April 19
Once someone has made an appointment, Smith reiterated, it will take about two months before they’ve gotten their doses and are considered fully vaccinated. That includes a two-week period following the second shot of Moderna or Pfizer.
“The goal is to have all Vermonters fully vaccinated by July 1,” Smith said. “We are focusing on administering as much vaccine to Vermonters as quickly as possible.”
The state is administering a daily average of 5,500 vaccinations per day and continues to operate clinics throughout the state.
“As the amount of vaccine we receive from the federal government increases, we will continue to increase our capacity to administer it,” Smith said.
Thus far, 86% of two age groups in Vermont — 75 or older, and 70-74 — have been vaccinated. That statistic is 66% for people ages 65-69.
As for school-based clinics, a total of 23,000 educators and eligible child care providers had received their first dose or made appointments, as of Friday. More school-based clinics for this group are being set up throughout Vermont in the coming days, including clinics in Rutland and Hartford on March 29.
To make an appointment, eligible people can visit to healthvermont.gov/myvaccine, where there are also links to the web pages for clinics at Kinney Drugs, CVS Pharmacy or Walgreens. Those are all part of the federal pharmacy program.
“Please remember to cancel your appointment in the state system if you get a vaccine at one of the participating pharmacies,” Smith said. “That will allow us to reallocate that appointment to someone else.” Those without internet access can call 855-722-7878.
Though recent case counts in the Northeast and Vermont have shown increases, case counts are expected to be stable over the long-term, state officials said at the Tuesday press briefing. Total hospitalizations due to COVID in Vermont are down 62% since early February, and have dropped by 16% in the past week, in large part due to reduced hospitalizations among the elderly population as vaccination became more common. Since January, cases among Vermonters age 70 and younger are down 25%, and those among the 70+ group are down 75%. The state’s positivity rate remains among the lowest in the nation, at 1.6%.
On Tuesday, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine acknowledged the sense of relief many have felt to see the first days of spring.
“The first real warm weather and sunshine is always more than welcome after a long Vermont winter, but this feels especially energizing and hopeful after long months, for some, of isolation,” Levine said.
He encouraged everyone to get outside and enjoy the improved weather. However, he also noted vigilance is still merited, as is mask-wearing, social distancing and keeping gatherings small, because the virus and its variants can “set us back if we let our guard down.”
“Not a gloom-and-doom message by any means, but neither should anyone yet declare victory,” Levine said. “We know the finish line is near, we can almost see it, but it’s also the point in the race where stumbles can be most risky.”
— Gareth Henderson
